Since 2019, the Federal Aviation Administration has reported a 400% increase in in-flight outbursts, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
November 23, 2025
high
temporal
Percentage increase in in-flight disturbances reported by the Federal Aviation Administration over the period beginning in 2019.
In 2023, the Federal Aviation Administration reported nearly 2,000 incidents of unruly passenger behavior on flights.
November 23, 2025
high
temporal
Annual count of unruly passenger incidents reported to the Federal Aviation Administration for 2023.
The Federal Aviation Administration issues advisories urging pilots to exercise caution when flying over countries experiencing worsening security situations or heightened military activity, warning that unspecified threats can pose risks to aircraft at all altitudes as well as to aircraft during takeoff, landing, and while on the ground.
November 21, 2025
high
temporal
Describes FAA practice for issuing pilot advisories in response to security or military activity in a country's airspace.
FAA-issued airspace advisories can specify an explicit effective period; for example, an FAA advisory issued in 2025 was set to last 90 days.
November 21, 2025
medium
temporal
Indicates that FAA advisories may include a defined duration of effect.
The Federal Aviation Administration can impose restrictions on commercial flights and limit air traffic at U.S. airports due to safety concerns arising from staffing shortages at air traffic control facilities.
November 16, 2025
high
regulatory
Describes the FAA's authority to restrict flight operations for safety when air traffic control staffing is insufficient.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) can issue orders that restrict commercial flight traffic at airports to manage safety concerns arising from air traffic controller staffing shortages.
November 16, 2025
high
operational
Regulatory/operational authority used to reduce traffic volume in response to controller staffing and safety issues.
FAA safety review teams evaluate safety trends and staffing-trigger events at air traffic control facilities when recommending the issuance, adjustment, or rescission of traffic-limiting orders.
November 16, 2025
high
procedural
Operational safety assessment process informing decisions about traffic restrictions.
The Federal Aviation Administration can require commercial airlines at designated U.S. airports to implement percentage-based flight reductions as an operational tool to manage safety risks and air traffic controller staffing shortages.
November 13, 2025
high
operational
Regulatory/operational authority used to reduce traffic volumes when controller staffing or safety conditions warrant.
Aviation safety monitoring commonly uses indicators such as aircraft proximity events, runway incursions, and pilot reports about controller responses to assess operational risk and determine whether restrictions are necessary.
November 13, 2025
high
safety
Specific operational safety metrics and reports are used by regulators to guide decisions about capacity and restrictions.
The Federal Aviation Administration can impose mandatory flight reductions at airports based on analysis of air-traffic data (including close-call frequency and delays caused by controller shortages) to alleviate strain on air traffic controllers.
November 12, 2025
high
regulatory
Describes a regulatory/operational authority and the types of data the agency may use to justify capacity restrictions.
In 2025, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) can require domestic airlines to reduce scheduled flights at major airports to address air traffic controller staffing and safety concerns.
November 11, 2025
high
temporal
Regulatory measure used to manage safety when controller staffing is reduced or stressed.
The FAA has the authority to impose operational restrictions on business jets and many private flights at airports that are subject to commercial flight limits.
November 11, 2025
high
temporal
Scope of FAA flight restrictions beyond commercial airline operations.
Absences and signs of stress among air traffic controllers, including those who have missed paydays, can create safety risks that prompt regulators to reduce flight operations.
November 11, 2025
high
temporal
Workforce stress and unpaid staff can directly affect aviation safety management decisions.
International Air Services offers trust agreements to non-U.S. citizens to enable registration of their aircraft with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
November 11, 2025
high
temporal
Business service model used to facilitate aircraft registration for non-U.S. owners.
The Federal Aviation Administration has the authority to require airlines to reduce scheduled flights at major airports in response to operational or staffing constraints.
November 11, 2025
high
policy
FAA operational directives can limit airport throughput when safety or staffing thresholds are not met.
Aviation regulators such as the Federal Aviation Administration can impose flight reductions at busy airports to maintain safety when air traffic controller staffing is insufficient.
November 11, 2025
high
temporal
Flight restrictions are an operational tool used to reduce controller workload and preserve safe separation when staffing is reduced.
The Federal Aviation Administration can require airlines to reduce or cut flights at airports in response to air traffic control staffing issues or related safety concerns.
November 10, 2025
high
institutional
Describes regulatory authority and operational responses used to manage air traffic when staffing is constrained.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) can issue operational orders requesting airlines to reduce scheduled flights at specific airports to mitigate strain on the national airspace system caused by shortages of air traffic controllers.
November 10, 2025
high
descriptive
Describes a regulatory tool the FAA can use to manage airspace capacity when controller staffing is insufficient.
The Federal Aviation Administration reduces or slows air traffic operations when air traffic controller staffing is insufficient in order to maintain flight safety.
November 10, 2025
high
process
Operational safety response used by air traffic authorities when controller staffing is low.
Air navigation authorities, including the Federal Aviation Administration, commonly respond to air traffic controller shortages by recruiting additional controllers, accelerating training programs, and offering retention bonuses to experienced controllers.
November 10, 2025
high
policy
Typical staffing and retention measures used to address controller shortages.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration can implement percentage-based reductions in scheduled flights at busy airports to manage air traffic controller staffing shortages.
November 10, 2025
high
temporal
Operational mitigation used by the FAA in response to controller staffing shortfalls.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) can issue an emergency directive prohibiting flight of a specific aircraft type when it determines that an unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.
November 09, 2025
high
temporal
Describes FAA regulatory authority to ground aircraft types via emergency directives when a systemic safety risk is identified.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) can order flight reductions at busy airports in response to air traffic controller staffing shortages.
November 09, 2025
high
temporal
Regulatory operational measure used to match air traffic demand to available controller staffing.
Flight reduction orders by the FAA can be implemented as percentage limits during specified daily time windows and applied across commercial airlines.
November 09, 2025
high
temporal
Mechanism for operationally limiting flights when controller staffing is constrained.
The Federal Aviation Administration can order reductions in flight service at the nation's busiest airports during staffing shortages.
November 08, 2025
high
policy
Regulatory authority used to manage airport operations when air traffic control staffing is constrained.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) can order reductions in commercial flight operations nationwide to relieve pressure on air traffic controllers and manage air traffic control workload.
November 07, 2025
high
operational
FAA authority to adjust flight capacity as an air traffic management tool to address controller staffing or workload issues.
The Federal Aviation Administration can mandate reductions in air traffic operations at selected airports to reduce workload on air traffic controllers.
November 07, 2025
high
general
Regulatory traffic-management actions can be used to limit airport operations when controller workload or system capacity requires it.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) can order airlines to reduce air traffic at specified major airports by a set percentage to manage air traffic controller staffing constraints.
November 07, 2025
high
temporal
Regulatory tool used to limit flight volume when controller staffing is insufficient to safely handle normal traffic levels.
Flight-reduction orders issued by the Federal Aviation Administration can be limited to domestic flights and exclude international routes.
November 07, 2025
high
temporal
Scope of FAA operational restrictions can differentiate between domestic and international flight operations.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) can require airlines to reduce scheduled flights at specific airports to manage air traffic controller workload.
November 06, 2025
high
regulatory
FAA authority to adjust flight schedules at airports as an operational measure to manage controller staffing and traffic flow.
The Federal Aviation Administration can impose reductions in flight traffic to relieve pressure on air traffic controllers during staffing shortages.
November 06, 2025
high
operational
Regulatory tool to limit traffic volume when controller staffing is constrained.
Air traffic management agencies such as the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration may implement percentage-based reductions in scheduled flights at high-volume airports to relieve pressure on air traffic controllers and maintain safety when controller staffing levels or payroll status are compromised.
November 06, 2025
high
procedural
Describes an operational safety measure used to manage controller workload and airspace capacity when staffing or pay disruptions occur.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) can restrict or reroute airspace operations and limit the number of flights when controller staffing is insufficient to ensure safety.
November 05, 2025
high
temporal
Airspace management actions such as reroutes, flow restrictions, or temporary closures are used to maintain safety when staffing is inadequate.
The Federal Aviation Administration can reduce scheduled air traffic throughput at high-volume airports as a safety mitigation when staffing shortages or operational stress threaten safe airspace operations.
November 05, 2025
high
temporal
Operational mitigation used to preserve safety under constrained staffing or system stress.
Transportation agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), can impose delays, slow or stop traffic, or cancel flights to maintain safety when they determine the system cannot be managed safely.
November 02, 2025
high
policy
General policy practice for managing transportation system safety during staffing shortages or other operational constraints.
Before the 2025 government shutdown, the Federal Aviation Administration reported a long-standing shortage of about 3,000 air traffic controllers.
November 02, 2025
high
temporal
Pre-existing staffing shortfall in the U.S. air traffic control workforce.
Ground stops in U.S. aviation are issued by the Federal Aviation Administration and are often requested by airlines.
October 24, 2025
high
procedural
Defines the purpose and issuer of a ground stop in U.S. aviation operations.
Federal Aviation Administration air traffic control facilities that are critically short-staffed can experience operational disruptions from a small number of controller absences, which can lead to flight delays.
October 24, 2025
high
operational
Staffing shortages at air traffic control facilities can magnify the effect of individual absences on operations and flight schedules.
Training to become an air traffic controller at the Federal Aviation Administration typically takes years.
October 24, 2025
high
structural
Air traffic controller training involves multi-stage instruction and on-the-job training that require extended periods to complete.
Air traffic controllers in the United States are federal employees employed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
October 22, 2025
high
temporal
Employment relationship between air traffic controllers and the federal agency that oversees the National Airspace System.
Government shutdowns can cause federal employees to work without pay and can strain operations of essential federal services, which can produce staffing shortages in agencies that operate critical transportation infrastructure and contribute to travel delays.
October 22, 2025
high
temporal
General effects of federal government funding lapses on essential public-service operations.
In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are the federal agencies that handle and investigate civil aircraft accidents.
October 20, 2025
high
procedural
Describes the federal responsibility for investigating civil aircraft accidents in the U.S.
On 2025-10-17 the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration increased the monthly production limit for Boeing 737 Max airplanes from 38 to 42 jets per month.
October 17, 2025
high
temporal
Regulatory cap on aircraft production set and adjusted by the FAA.
In 2025, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had a critical shortage of air traffic controllers such that even small numbers of controller absences could cause significant disruptions to U.S. air traffic operations.
October 10, 2025
high
temporal
Workforce shortages in air traffic control can produce outsized operational impacts on the national airspace system.
The Federal Aviation Administration can limit the number of aircraft in its airspace to maintain safe operations during staffing shortages.
October 08, 2025
high
temporal
Operational safety measure used to manage air traffic when controller availability is reduced.
The Federal Aviation Administration can issue flight restrictions over locations for security reasons.
October 07, 2025
high
regulatory
FAA authority to restrict airspace for safety and security considerations.
Air traffic control staffing shortages can prompt the Federal Aviation Administration to implement operational measures—such as ground stops, ground delay programs, and limits on arrivals per hour—that can cause multi-hour delays and flight cancellations at affected airports.
October 07, 2025
high
temporal
Common operational responses by the FAA to insufficient air traffic control staffing.
Past U.S. federal government shutdowns have been associated with increased absenteeism among airport workers and FAA-imposed limits on flights at some major airports.
October 07, 2025
high
temporal
Historical pattern linking government shutdowns to aviation staffing and operational restrictions.
A 2025 Gallup poll found that fewer than 35% of Americans rated the State Department, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Justice Department, the Federal Reserve Board and the Department of Veterans Affairs positively.
September 16, 2025
high
temporal
Overall approval levels for several federal agencies were below 35% in the 2025 poll.
In 2019 the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration took full control over approvals for the Boeing 737 Max following two crashes that killed 346 people and were later attributed to a new flight-control software system developed by Boeing.
January 01, 2019
high
temporal
Regulatory change in FAA oversight of aircraft certification after fatal accidents tied to aircraft software.
The Federal Aviation Administration reduces the number of takeoffs and landings at an airport when there is a shortage of air traffic controllers to prevent on-duty personnel from being overwhelmed and to maintain safety, which can cause flight delays and cancellations.
high
process
Describes FAA operational response to air traffic controller staffing shortages and its effect on flights
The Federal Aviation Administration classifies U.S. air traffic controllers as essential employees who are required to work during federal government shutdowns and are entitled to receive back pay once government funding is restored.
high
policy
FAA classification of air traffic controllers and pay entitlement during funding lapses
Airlines can coordinate with federal agencies such as the Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Federal Aviation Administration to provide meals or other support to transportation-sector federal workers during staffing or pay disruptions.
high
temporal
Describes a recurring operational response and interagency coordination option used by airlines to support federal transportation workers during disruptions.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, a go-around is a procedure in which a pilot discontinues a landing approach at the direction of air traffic control and returns to altitude.
high
definition
Defines the standard aviation procedure known as a go-around.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has the authority to halt flights at an airport in response to security threats.
high
operational
Federal aviation safety and security procedures empower the FAA to suspend airport flight operations when security threats are identified.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issues ground delays and ground stops for flights due to staffing shortages, and such events are recorded in Air Traffic Control System Command Center Advisories.
high
operational
Describes FAA operational mechanisms for managing air traffic when staffing is limited.
Travelers can consult FAA advisories to identify which airports are affected by delays or closures.
high
procedural
Guidance on publicly available FAA information for travel planning.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) can direct airlines to reduce scheduled flights at airports as a measure to relieve pressure on air traffic controllers and preserve safety.
high
temporal
Describes an operational tool available to the FAA for managing controller workload and system safety.
The Federal Aviation Administration can impose flight reductions at busy airports to reduce workload on air traffic controllers.
high
operational
FAA uses traffic-volume limits as a tool to manage controller workload and overall airspace capacity.
Federal government shutdowns can force the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to reduce or cut flights, which can cause widespread flight delays and cancellations.
high
temporal
Describes a typical operational effect of federal government shutdowns on air travel operations.
The Federal Aviation Administration has had a pre-existing shortage of about 3,000 air traffic controllers.
high
capacity
Longstanding staffing shortfalls within air traffic control operations.
When flight reductions are phased in by airlines or regulators, reversing those flight cuts is typically a gradual process and aviation authorities commonly review safety-related data such as pilot complaints, loss-of-separation incidents, and runway incursions before restoring service levels.
high
operational
Describes standard operational and safety review practices used to determine when to resume normal flight schedules after reductions.
The Federal Aviation Administration has experienced a staffing shortfall of about 3,000 air traffic controllers.
high
statistical
Baseline staffing shortage in the U.S. air traffic control workforce.
The Federal Aviation Administration monitors safety trends and staffing-trigger events in air traffic control facilities and uses those metrics to recommend or rescind operational restrictions on commercial flights.
high
policy
Describes how the FAA evaluates operational safety and staffing when making flight-restriction decisions.
The Federal Aviation Administration can impose operational restrictions on commercial flights at specific airports to mitigate safety risks arising from air traffic control staffing shortages.
high
policy
Describes a durable FAA authority and its purpose (safety mitigation related to staffing).
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) are federal agencies responsible for oversight and administration of aviation operations in the United States.
high
definition
Identifies the federal agencies involved in aviation oversight and administration.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) typically requires multiple years of training for air traffic controllers.
high
operational
Duration and complexity of FAA air traffic controller training programs.
Staffing shortages of air traffic controllers can result in extended work schedules for controllers, such as 10-hour shifts six days per week.
high
operational
Relationship between controller staffing levels and typical shift length/intensity.
FAA technicians are responsible for maintaining computer and radar systems used by air traffic controllers to manage aircraft and ensure safe operations.
high
operational
Role of technical maintenance staff in supporting air traffic control operations.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investigates in-flight incidents and reports of odors, fumes, or other safety-related anomalies aboard aircraft.
high
procedural
Regulatory oversight role of the FAA regarding aviation safety incidents.